Flying-machine.



G. W. WALLER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.5, 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 1.

G. W. WALLER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.6,1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2.

U. W. WALLER.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION .EILBD MAR. a, 1914.

Patented. Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I I C. W. WALLER. FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1914.

11 32,049. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. T6, with.

' Application filed March 6, 1914. Serial No. 822,548.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. WALLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in flying machines, and more particularly to in some of its embodiments m that class or type known as helicopters in which'the machine is carried or sustained in the air through the action of inclined blades or surfaces revolving about a common point or axis of rotation.

The primary object of the invention is to improve the form and mounting of the revoluble sustainin blades or planes as well as the manner in which power is applied to the same for revolving the planes or blades about a common axis for carrying on sustainin the machine while in flight.

- A further object is to provide a'generally improved machine possessing inherent stabil1t as well as improved means for controllllmg and steeringthe same while in fiig t.

A still further object is the provision of improved means for driving or propelling the lifting aeroplane surfaces about a common axis of rotation as well as for controlling and varying the revolution or rotation whereby it will rise or descend or hover in theair at a practically uniform or stationar height.

ith the above mentioned and other ends in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, hereinafter describedi1 illustrated Q c afully pointed out nymg drawin s, and more in-the appen ed claims.

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of. this specification, Figure 1, is a side elevation of a fiyingmachine constructed in accordance w th my invention. Fig. 2, a top plan view of the same. .Fig. 3, a front elevation of amodiiied form .of same. -Fi 4, a horizontal sectional .view taken on dine 4-4 of Fig. 3, the horizontallyrevoluble sustaining planes being indicated'in dotted lines. Fig. 5, an enlarged side elevation of the form of power plant shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Fig. 6, a top plan. view of a modified form of a horizontally revoluble lifting or sustaining plane.

Similar numerals of reference designate like parts throughout all the figures of the drawin s. The frame of the machine ma be of any suitable and desired form, said frame, in the present instance, being a vessel of ontoon shape 1, as diagrammatically i lustrated 1n, Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, or a pan of pontoons 1, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The frame or chassis may be mounted on su table landing wheels 2, and the horizontally revoluble elevating and sustaining planes 3, are mounted upon masts or shafts 4, suitably connected to the frame or ontoon portion 1 or 1, of the machine. I deslred, a air or lurality of shafts 4, may be provi ed as s own in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The planes 3, may be secured upon and driven directl from the shafts 4:, as shown in Figs. 3 and l of the drawings, but are preferably driven independently thereof through the medium of propellers 5, as shown 1n Figs. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings. The planes 3, may be curved to conform to those of the ordinary aeroplane, and any suitable number or arrangement of such planes may be resorted to, such for example,as the ordinary biplane type as shown in the drawings.

The biplanes 3 maybe connected and supported in the ordinary or conventional manner, as by means of vertical members 3, and brace w1res 3 The planes 3, are preferably braeed'or reinforced'b means ofguy wires or truss rods 3, whic, truss-rods or wires 3, are connected to collars 6, and the lower portlons of the shaft 4, may be braced and connected to the machine frame through the medium of brace or truss wires 6, said wires being connected-to a collar 7. The collars 6, and 7, may be provided with suit: able anti-friction bearings such as rollers or ball bearings as desired.

As before stated, the elevating and susam 'p an ently of the shaft ,1, through the medium of propellers 5, and as convenient means of mounting and driving said propellers 5, the latter are preferably carried upon driving shafts 8, in suitable bearings 8 said bear ings, in the present instance, being mounted upon the vertical members or bars 3 of the biplanes. The propeller shafts 8, are provided with Wheels 8", adapted to be drlven by means of endless belts or drivin memhere 9, such as sprocket wheels or t e like,

y be driven independthese driving members or other driving parts being herein diagrammatically illustrated. As a means of driving or imparting motion to the shafts 4, the latter may either-be provided with driving disks 10, as shown in Figs. land 2 of the drawings, or driving wheels 10*, as shown in Figs. 3 and 40f the drawings. The propellers 5, may be driven indirectly through suitable mechanism communicating with motors 11, situated in the suspended frame 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, or if desired, may be driven directly from a motor 11*, situated at or near the center of the planes and carried by the latter as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. As a convenient means of driving the propeller shaft 8, through the shaft 4, the latter is provided with a driving wheel 12, carrying a plurality of endless driving members or belts 9, each of said driving members 9, communieating with and extending over a wheel 8, on one of the propeller shafts 8.

As a means of horizontal flight, any suitable and convenient form of propeller may be employed, such for example, as the form of propeller 14, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, said propeller 14, being similar in form to the sustaining planes 3, but mounted upon the horizontally extending driving shaft 14. If desired, an ordinary form of propeller 15, may be employed such as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the planes 3, and the collars 6, to which the truss-rods 32, are attached, are not attached to and driven by the shaft 4, but are loosely mounted on the latter whereby the planes 3, are adapted to be driven about the shaft 4, through the medium of the driving wheel 12, and endless driving belts 9, communicating with and driving the propeller shafts 8, above described, it being obvious that such connection will cause the planes 3, to be driven about through the action of the propellers 5.

Any suitable and convenient form of rudder or steering mechanism may be employed, but in the present instance, I have shown a pair of horizontal rudders 16, and a vertical rudder 17 suitably mounted on a common support 18, and adapted to be operated by means of cables and suitable operating mechanism (not shown). If desired, a rear propeller 19, may be employed, said propeller being mounted on a propeller shaft 20, supported in suitable bearings 21, said propeller being within the rear. concaved portion of the vessel or body 1, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

As a means of driving the propellers 14 and 19, as Well as the shaft 4, the motors 11 are connected to suitable shaftsll", which shafts are provided with friction wheels 11, adapted to engage with and move the horizontal driving disk 10, and the second driving disk 22, the latter being adapted to transmit motion to the propeller 14, through the medium of a friction wheel 23, said friction wheel 23, being mounted on a shaft 24, carried in a bearing standard 25. The shaft 24, transmits motion to a second shaft 26, and the second shaft 26, is connected to a stub shaft 27 carrying a driving wheel 28, said wheel 28, transmitting motion to a wheel 29, on, the propeller shaft 14*, through the medium of endless driving members 30. The shaft 26, is connected at its ends by means of universal couplings 26*.

As a means of changing speed, as well as throwing the parts into and out of gear with the disks 10 and 22, the wheels 11, are adapted to be moved by shifting blocks or members 31, connected to connecting members 32, of suitable shifting levers 33, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5, of the drawings.

In the forms shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the wheels 10, of the shaft 4, are driven from a pair of horizontal driving disks 10 similar in form to the disks 10 and 22, the disks 10", receiving their motion from the motor shafts 11", similar to those hereinbefore described, said disks 10*, transmitting motion to the wheels 10 through endless driving members 10. As a means of transmitting motion to the front propeller 15, the driving disks 10", are provided with a second pair of endless driving members 10 which latter communicate motion to a third horizontal disk 10, which disk or gear 10 transmits motion to the propeller shaft 15, through the wheel 15 in an obvious and understood manner.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, the motor 11, is mourted directly between and carried by the aeroplane, and transmits motion direct to the propeller shafts through the medium of the endless members 11".

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Having thus described some of the embodiments of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

1. A flying machine, comprising an elongated frame, horizontal revoluble elevating and sustaining planes, propellers carried by said planes, 2; common driving shaft for supporting said planes and operating said propellers, propellers at the front of said frame for propelling said planes in a horizontal direction, a power plant for operating said elevating and propelling planes independently or simultaneously! with each other, and steering and propelling mecha-- a plurality of superposed trussed horizontally revoluble aeroplanes extending above said frame, a combined driving and supporting shaft extending between said planes and frame,-propellers carried by said aeroplanes for revolving the same about said driving and supporting shaft, means for operating said pro ellers from said driving shaft, and means or propelling and steering in horizontal flight independently of the operation of said horizontally revoluble aeroplanes.

3. In a flying machine, a plurality of trussed biplanes, a common axle and supporting shaft therefor, a frame provided with a propelling and steering mechanism carried by said shaft below said biplanes, propellers carried by said biplanes, operating means extending between the latter and said axle and supporting shaft whereby said propellers on said planes are actuated, and the planes are revolved about said commonaxle and supporting shaft, and means for driving said axle and supporting shaft.

4. In a flying machine, a plurality of superposed trussed .aeroplanes, propellers carried by said aeroplanes, a common axle driving shaft for supporting said planes and operating said propellers, a propeller at the front of said frame for propelling said aeroplanes and frame in a horizontal direction independently of the rotation of said planes on said common axle driving shaft,

means for operating said driving shaft and. propeller independently of each other, and steering mechanism at the rear of said frame.

5. A flying machine, comprising a frame, a plurality of horizontal revoluble elevating and sustaining planes connected to and mounted above said frame, a common driving shaft carried by said frame and supporting said elevating and sustaining planes, propellers carried by: said planes and operatively connected to said common driving shaft, propellers for propelling said planes and frame in a horizontal direction,

a common ower plant for said elevating and propelliing planes, and a screw pro-f peller and steering mechanism at the rear of said frame. Y

6. A flying machine, comprising a longitudinally extending frame a driving shaft extending upwardly therefrom, aplurality of truss rods extending between said frame and said shaft, a plurality of trussed planes horizontally revoluble on said shaft, propellers carried by said planes, means for operating said propellers from said driving shaft, propellers at the front of said frame for propelling in horizontal flight independently of said trussed planes, a ower plant for operating said driving sha said last mentioned propellers simultaneously or independently of each other, and a rudder at the rear of said frame for steerin in horizontal flight.

I. A flying machine, comprising a trussed frame, a combined axle and driving shaft extending upwardly therefrom, a plurality of trussed biplanes rotatably mounted on said shaft, truss rods extending between the and latter and said biplanes, propellers carried by said biplanes, driving mechanism extending between said propellers and said axle and driving shaft whereby said propellers are driven from and "said biplanes are revolved' about said. axle and driving shaft,

means in said trussed frame for driving said axle and driving shaft, and propeller and steering mechanism at the front and rear of said frame, respectively, for propelling and J oHrrSwAN'so q, CARL Lrmnnnne. 

